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Canada acts to further prevent transshipment and diversion of steel and aluminum to protect North American workers against unfair trade

March 27, 2018
Ottawa, Ontario

The transshipment and diversion of unfairly cheap foreign steel and aluminum is a threat to Canadian jobs and the North American market.

Canada already has one of the toughest enforcement regimes in the world to combat this practice. We currently have 71 trade remedy measures in force on steel and aluminum imports alone. And we are strengthening enforcement further to stop foreign exporters from avoiding duties meant to level the playing field.

The following regulatory changes will be brought forward and be subject to a 15-day consultation period through the Canada Gazette:

• New anti-circumvention investigations will allow the Canada Border Services Agency to identify and stop companies that try to dodge duties (for example, by slightly modifying products or assembling them in Canada or a third country).

• In calculating duties, the Canada Border Services Agency will have greater flexibility in determining whether prices charged in the exporter’s domestic market, which we use for comparison, are reliable or distorted.

• Unions will gain standing to participate in trade-remedy proceedings, including at the Canadian International Trade Tribunal, into whether foreign exports are hurting domestic producers.

In addition, the Government of Canada will:

• Coordinate more closely with our partners to strengthen enforcement at the border, including by increasing the frequency of meetings between border agencies. This will improve the sharing of information and enforcement action. We will also urgently undertake a review to make sure our enforcement agencies have all the resources they need to take action on unfair trade.  

• Look to meet more often with the United States and Mexico to identify and discuss solutions to issues that harm all three countries, including transshipment, diversion, and global overcapacity.

• Participate in new federal-provincial-territorial-stakeholder committees, which will meet regularly to monitor steel and aluminum trade to ensure imports do not hurt Canadian and North American jobs.

These changes form part of what will be a continuous process of making Canada’s trade remedy investigations and enforcement more robust, responsive and timely.

We will always stand up for Canadian steel and aluminum workers and the Canadian steel and aluminum industry.

Quote

“Canada is a trading nation, and we will not allow North American industries to be hurt or threatened by unfair trade practices, like the diversion of steel and aluminum. Our businesses and workers rely on our integrated industries, and we will take strong action to defend and protect our most important trade relationships. Canada will not be used as a backdoor into other North American markets. Our people have worked hard to be competitive in this global economy, and they deserve a level playing field.”
—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• Canada’s trade remedy system helps preserve a fair and open trading environment for our producers. It protects Canadian businesses from the impacts of foreign goods that have benefited from unfair subsidies or that are being sold in Canada at artificially low prices.
• Our trade remedy system includes a robust compliance regime to impose duties. Currently, we have imposed trade remedies against 17 different steel products and 23 countries.
• In Budget 2017, the Government of Canada announced measures to strengthen and modernize our trade remedy system. Changes to the Special Import Measures Act received Royal Assent in June 2017 as part of the Budget Implementation Act, 2017, No. 1, and regulatory changes are being proposed to support and fully implement these measures in the weeks to come.
• In 2017, the Canadian steel industry employed more than 23,000 Canadians and contributed $4.2 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP). The Canadian aluminum industry employed 10,500 workers while contributing $4.7 billion to Canada’s GDP. These industries are vital suppliers to the Canadian manufacturing, energy, automotive, and construction industries.
• The North American Steel Trade Committee, established in October 2003, provides a venue for the North American steel industry and governments to exchange information on the steel market, and for governments to discuss and coordinate policies and activities that may have an impact on trade in steel.
• During the 2016 North American Leaders’ Summit, Canada, the United States, and Mexico agreed to establish a trilateral Customs Steel Enforcement Dialogue to help coordinate compliance efforts and information sharing regarding the enforcement of anti-dumping and countervailing measures on steel products. Since its creation, the Dialogue has held three meetings, which facilitated a number of joint enforcement operations.Prime Minister delivers a statement of exoneration for six Tsilhqot’in Chiefs
  
  March 26, 2018
  Ottawa, Ontario
  
  
  As Canada continues its journey of reconciliation and renewal with Indigenous Peoples, we need to confront our history so we can build a new nation-to-nation relationship guided by the recognition of rights and the values of respect and partnership.
  The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today delivered a statement of exoneration on behalf of the Government of Canada to the Tsilhqot’in Nation and the descendants of six Tsilhqot’in Chiefs. He confirmed the posthumous exoneration of all six chiefs – Chief Lhats’as?in, Chief Biyil, Chief Tilaghed, Chief Taqed, Chief Chayses, and Chief Ahan.
  These chiefs were leaders and warriors of the Tsilhqot’in Nation who acted in accordance with their laws and traditions, and are regarded by their people as heroes.They fought against the colonial government of the time, ultimately leading to their hanging in 1864 and 1865. Prime Minister Trudeau acknowledged that the capture, arrest, and hanging of the six Chiefs was borne of a profound lack of respect for the Tsilhqot’in people, traditions, and territory.
  The posthumous exoneration of these six leaders of the Tsilhqot'in Nation is an important symbol of the Government of Canada's commitment to reconciliation.

  Quotes

  “I know that this posthumous exoneration cannot by itself repair the damage that has been done.It is my sincere hope, though, that it will allow healing to begin as Canada and the Tsilhqot’in Nation embark on a new journey together toward reconciliation. This is another important step forward to recognize and support the implementation of the rights of the Tsilhqot’in and all Indigenous Peoples, enshrined in our Constitution.”
  —The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

  “Our people’s journey to this place of reconciliation has been long and enduring. 154 years have passed where our truth has gone unrecognized. Under a flag of truce, our Chiefs were wrongfully shackled, tried, and hanged. We have always been proud of the sacrifices made by our Chiefs, who are heroes to our people, and continue to inspire and guide the work of the future. Today, Canada has finally acknowledged that our warriors did no wrong.”

  “The Chilcotin War has defined us as who we are today – building our spirit and shaping our perseverance. The deceit we faced 154 years ago can never be forgotten, but we can move forward on a different path, a new journey, one carved out by a mutual understanding and respect of our rights, title, and ways of life. We are prepared to work with Canada to transform the lives of our people and this country – in a way that ensures our children will not have to see such things as Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women, high Indigenous incarceration rates, or over representation of Indigenous children in the foster care system.”
  —Chief Joe Alphonse, Tribal Chairman, Tsilhqot’in National Government

  Quick Facts

  • In the spring of 1864, the Tsilhqot’in Chiefs led their nation’s war effort in response to a colonial road crew attempting to build a road through their territory without any legal agreement with the Tsilhqot’in Nation.
  • In the summer of 1864, one of the leaders of the colonial militia sent the Tsilhqot'in Chiefs a sacred gift of tobacco and, with it, an invitation to discuss terms of peace. Head War Chief Lhats’as?in and his men accepted the offer and went to the colonial camp to negotiate peace. Instead, they were arrested, imprisoned, and convicted.
  • On October 26, 1864, five Tsilhqot’in Chiefs were hanged for murder: Head War Chief Lhats’as?in, Chief Biyil, Chief Tilaghed, Chief Taqed, and Chief Chayses. They are buried in Quesnel, British Columbia. Later, Chief Ahan was also hanged. He is buried in New Westminster, British Columbia.
  • Today, the Tsilhqot’in people, including the descendants of those six chiefs, continue to live and care for Tsilhqot’in lands. They have continued to fight to preserve their territory and culture, right up to the historic Supreme Court of Canada decision of June 26, 2014, which recognized aboriginal title for the Tsilhqot’in Nation.
  • A Letter of Understanding between Canada and the Tsilhqot’in Nation was signed in January 2017, marking another step toward reconciliation and recognition of our nation-to-nation relationship.

  Associated Links

  • Tsilhqot’in Nation v. British Columbia
  • Letter of Understanding Between the Tsilhqot'in Nation and Canada: January 27, 2017
  • The Government of Canada and the Tsilhqot’in Nation Announce Intent to Offer Posthumous Exonerations to Six Tsilhqot’in Chiefs
  • Government of Canada to create Recognition and Implementation of Rights FrameworkItinerary for Tuesday, March 27, 2018
    March 26, 2018
    Ottawa, Ontario
    
    
    Itinerary for the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, for Tuesday, March 27, 2018:
    Ottawa, Ontario
    9:30 a.m. The Prime Minister will attend the Cabinet meeting.
    Note for media:
    • Ministers will be available to media in the House of Commons Foyer as of 12 p.m.
    2 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend Question Period.Reminder - Itinerary for Tuesday, March 27, 2018
    
    March 26, 2018
    Ottawa, Ontario
    
    
    Itinerary for the Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, for Tuesday, March 27, 2018:
    Ottawa, Ontario
    9:30 a.m. The Prime Minister will attend the Cabinet meeting.
    Note for media:
    • Ministers will be available to media in the House of Commons Foyer as of 12 p.m.
    2 p.m. The Prime Minister will attend Question Period.
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